Sow There: Letting other people handle the dirty work

I'd almost forgotten how easily I can be impressed by other people's dirty work.

Dr. Mark (Stemen) phoned this week to say there was a tractor working at the Humboldt Community Garden on El Monte Avenue and Humboldt Road. Within minutes, my rubber chicken and I were at the garden gate.

The garden is in the middle of a grand expansion, and one gardener was busy making new garden plots using a small tractor.

I've been to the garden before, once when the land was an open field, and again after plants had been put into the ground.

My, how things have grown.

The raised beds are noteworthy, as are two teepees and trellises for beans.

But what was most inspiring were the plants — which are alive despite the recent beating by Jack Frost.

As has always been the case, Dr. Mark was charming and enthusiastic as we looked around. We took turns putting the rubber chicken into provocative poses for the camera.

Lettuce and spinach were planted in November. Some of the leaves are cold-scorched, but there was much that remained to eat. Dr. Mark has broccoli ready to harvest. Cabbage prevailed in tidy clusters and onions were proudly scoffing at the frigid sky.

We also chatted for a while with Dave Hollingsworth who was busy digging up very large potatoes.

If you're interested in claiming your own garden plot, you can sign up through March 1. Call the Butte Environmental Council at 891-6424. The cost for water is $30 a year.

Inspired to grow

It's still cold outside, so there won't be much luck with planting seeds outdoors. However, Dr. Mark said buying plants grown by a professional will help jump-start your growing pleasure.

I had fairly good luck last winter by planting seeds on top of a garden warming pad.

Maybe I'll try my thumb with the warming pad and lettuce.

For the past 15 years, I've painstakingly planted tomatoes in January. They'll sprout in a windowsill. Simply plant seeds in small pots and cover with plastic wrap. You can put them on top of the refrigerator until they sprout. Then move to the window during the day and the middle of the living room at night.

Yet, I think I'll help out the flailing nursery economy this year and buy tomato plants that someone else has carefully nurtured.

Another thing that clings

While at the community garden, something caught our attention near Dave's potato patch.

This thing looked like an alien seed pod, dry and brown, with long antlers.

Devil's claw, also known as unicorn plant, produces two hooks at the end of the seed pod. When the pod drops off, the hooks easily attach to your pant leg, your hair, the edge of your flowing dress or superhero cape.

It's a fascinating feature of weeds, that they manage to "cling on" as a way to scatter seeds nearby. It's fascinating, but exasperating, unless you're traipsing through someone else's yard.

The pod itself is also spike-encrusted. I liked the pod so much, I attached one end to the strap of my purse. By the time I got to the car, the pod had snatched onto my scarf and become entwined in the fringe.

I liked the plant a lot less after that.

To see a photo of the devil's claw clamped onto my purple scarf, check out my blog at www.norcalblogs.com/sowthere. Please also follow on Twitter @HeatherHacking.